Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 508 › Conversation 508-007

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Urban unemployment and Economic policy

Wednesday, June 2, 1971 · 8:55 AM–9:20 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation508-007 on Tape 508 (tape position 00:13:27–00:15:02)StartWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 8:55 AMEndWednesday, June 2, 1971 at 9:20 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 508-007 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417177639 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum for John D. Ehrlichman regarding the urgent need to address rising urban unemployment. Concerned that unemployment rates exceeding 6% would create severe political repercussions and irreparable economic damage, Nixon directs Ehrlichman to coordinate with George P. Shultz to develop a strategy for the summer months. The discussion focuses on evaluating Pierre Rinfret’s economic forecasts and formulating proactive policy measures to mitigate potential civil and political instability.

Audio

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NARA Description

On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 508-007

Date: June 2, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:55 am and 9:20 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to John D. Ehrlichman

     Urban unemployment
          -Pierre Rinfret’s predictions
          -Possible political problems
          -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming meeting with George P. Shultz
          -Ehrlichman’s recommendations

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 69% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I think it may become necessary for us to consider gas action during the summer months to do a purposeful stash and deal with

climate and trade in the major cities.

And second, to keep the climate of national trade.

I know that the air rent rate predicts that we will have a 7% unemployment rate by the end of the summer.

So, Snow, what is going to happen?

If we have substantial increases over the 6%,

Hanging on through the next five or six months, we will have a massive political problem.

And also, we may set up public mines so probably we may not be able to recover from it.

I sober with Schultz.

and give me a recommendation in the memorandum.

Also recorded on June 2, 1971

508-001 8:55 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-002 8:55 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-003 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-004 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-005 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-006 8:55 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-008 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.
508-009 8:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 9:20 am.

All 27 conversations from June 2, 1971 →

Nixon & Woods on Staffing and Pierre Rinfret August 8, 1972 · 10 min
Nixon phone call with Shultz on Phase III and Economic policy January 11, 1973 · 2 min
Nixon phone call with Ehrlichman on Watergate scandal and John W. Dean III April 9, 1973 · 2 min
Nixon alone in his EOB office on Second term reorganization December 28, 1972 · 8 min
Nixon & Bull on Economic Policy and George P. Shultz April 25, 1973 · 4 min
Nixon phone call with Colson on George McGovern and Economic Policy June 24, 1972 · 17 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 508-007, June 2, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417177639). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/508-007 (accessed November 11, 2026).